Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Ikeoluwapo Ajayi
ORCID ID
Contact details
Department of Epidemiology
Medical Statistics and Environmental Health
College of Medicine
University of Ibadan
Ibadan
PMB 5116
Nigeria
ikeajayi2003@yahoo.com
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Malaria is a disease caused by the protozoan plasmodium falciparum. It is still rampant in sub-Saharan Africa and endemic in Nigeria with perennial transmission. It causes febrile illness which could be severe in children accounting for 25% of infant mortality and 8-12% of death under age of five years. Malaria is responsible for 40-60% of out patient consultation. It presents in two clinical types - uncomplicated and severe malaria.
Study Domain: Parasitic infection; child care and health education/behaviour change
Study hypotheses:
1. There will be no significant difference in the outcome of malaria in children whose mothers or caregivers used treatment protocol to treat malaria at home and those whose mothers did not use the protocol.
2. There will be no significant difference in the correctness of use of chloroquine by mothers who used the treatment protocol and those who did not use the protocol.
3. There will be no significant difference in the correctness of use of chloroquine by trained mothers and mothers who were not trained.
Ethics approval
The joint University of Ibadan/University College Hospital Institutional Ethical Review Board. Date of Approval: 29th June 2000
Study design
Single-centre, single-blind, randomised controlled field study.
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Not specified
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Condition
Malaria
Intervention
Randomisation of the communities to the intervention and control groups was done by ballots.
Interventions carried out at the intervention site:
1. Training of 'mother trainers' and community members about cause, symptoms and signs of the clinical types, treatment and prevention of malaria including referral.
2. Development of a treatment protocol using participatory approach and distribution of the protocol to households. The development of the protocol was done in phases using modified focus group sessions with several community checks at different stages of development. The participants were the 'mother trainers', selected community members, research team and a graphic artist. The treatment protocol consists of treatment guidelines for each of the clinical types of malaria compiled together on a cardboard. The protocol illustrated the presentation of clinical types of malaria, the appropriate steps to take for each type and the correct dose and schedule of treatment of uncomplicated malaria using chloroquine according to the age of the child. The protocol was in cartoon format and the local language was used.
Mothers/caregivers in both arms of the study were requested to purchase the chloroquine used for treatment from their regular source which in most instances are the drug hawkers and patent medicine sellers.
Control arm of the study:
They were passive controls. The communities in the control arm of the study were left to continue their usual treatment practice for malaria in their children. No training or guideline was provided.
Duration of intervention: One year
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Specified
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
The mothers/caregivers were asked about the treatment given to the child during visits by the research assistants. The mothers/caregivers were asked to record these details in their diary, which was checked on Day 7 from recruitment at the time of collecting Day 7 blood sample for microscopy examination. These data were used to assess the following:
1. Correct use of chloroquine, measured in terms of dose, frequency and duration
2. Timeliness of commencing treatment (commencing treatment within 24 hours of noticing fever in child)
3. Treatment outcome, measured by mean parasite clearance time, fever clearance time, and progression of illness as reported by mothers/caregivers
4. Use of the protocol. Proportion of mothers who referred to the treatment protocol in the treatment of last episode of malaria in children
Secondary outcome measures
1. Attack rate of malaria over a period of one year
2. Sensitivity and specificity of presumptive diagnosis of malaria by mothers/caregivers
Overall trial start date
16/06/2004
Overall trial end date
30/06/2005
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Mothers with children 10 years or less who have febrile illness presumed to be malaria
2. Willingness of mothers to allow their child remain in study for a period of 14 days
3. Mothers who consent to their child having finger prick to collect blood for blood smears
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Child
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
152 children (76 in each arm)
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Child with severe illness or requiring parenteral medication
2. Child with other diseases, co-morbid with febrile illness
Withdrawal Criteria:
1. Parents of children choosing not to continue with the study
2. Progression of illness in child
Recruitment start date
16/06/2004
Recruitment end date
30/06/2005
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Nigeria
Trial participating centre
Department of Epidemiology
Ibadan
PMB 5116
Nigeria
Sponsor information
Organisation
University of Ibadan (Nigeria)
Sponsor details
c/o Dr Ikeoluwapo Oyeneye Ajayi
Department of Epidemiology
Medical Statistics and Environmental Health
College of Medicine
University of Ibadan
Ibadan
PMB 5116
Nigeria
+234 8 023 268431
ikeajayi2003@yahoo.com
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Other
Funder name
Investigator funded (Nigeria)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list